[theora-dev] Using the VP3 ENCODER in a DIRECTSHOW GRAPH wit defined quality and BANDWIDTH - HOW?

[Daniel B. Miller]

hi Thomas --

On Thu, 22 Aug 2002, Thomas Tomiczek wrote:

> Daniel,
>
> This is not realy convincing. Good, I could use this (not really a
> problem), but - well - the main problem is propably that I would have to
> rewrite this key whenever the application starts, writing back the
> original value when the application stops. That is not really nice.

unless you modify the code, that's the only way to do it right now.
>
> Is there any plan to write a "real" DirectShow filter, one that
> (a) complies fully iwth the DirectShow standards, such as:
> 	(1) implementing the interface for video compressors to set
> quality in a "easy one number way"
> 	(2) implementing bandwidth configuration by the stupid and
> ridiculous way Dx has decided to use (i.e. set it on the output pin's
> media type)
> 	(3) implements a custom interface for the other configuration,
> in case the application is allowed to "have knowledge" of the filer
> (instead of being a generic application able to use any filter)
> 	(4) implements dialogs to configure the filter?

Right now there are no plans to build a fully DSHOW compliant
encode/decode filter.  Our main thrust at Theora is to develop an
OGG-based audio/video stream spec, not to build codecs for specific
platforms and formats.
>
> I must say that I might be willing to set up a price for the inclusion
> of this functionality into DirectShow in the case that - well - the VP 3
> codec is of at least the same quality as intel indeo (which I actually
> and perfectly assume it will be). I do not feel too comfortable using
> the Video Encoder that seems to be a VfW wrapper.

Neither Xiph nor On2 is in a position to pay anyone for this sort of work.
If you decide to make a contribution to our open-source initiative, the
compensation is in knowing that you will have a vibrant community of
developers who will help you improve your contribution, and are making
contributions of their own.  We encourage you to consider developing this
tool and contributing it to the Theora/VP3 codebase.
>
> Just as an end note - bear with me that I just want to have a version
> her ethat I can show:
>
> (a) can you just send me a sample of how the registry line would have to
> look for a 90kbit video stream, 10 frames per second? And what would be
> the full key? I will try to find out, but I try to just use the filter
> :-)

Run an app that loads the codec; go into the dialog, and set the datarate
for 11 kbyte/sec.  This will save the key into the registry with these
settings.  The key is under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/On2 Technologies
(or something very similar).

>
> (b) is there any chance that an official MSM file will be released for
> filter installation? Right now I have to ways to handle this, especially
> with the upcoming LGPL:

Note Vp3 is not released under LGPL -- check out the license at
www.theora.org -- it's released under the standard Xiph licensing terms
(Basically BDS)

> 	(1) include and slave the full official installation - that is
> NOT really nice.
> 	(2) include the filter dll's in my own installer, explaining the
> license etc.
> Both are not good. I would prefer (3):
> 	(3) merge an official merge module for the filter that is
> installing (or autoamtically upgrading) the filter on it's "official
> location" etc.

Again, we have no resources to devote to this.  For now our plan is to
support the VFW and QT interfaces.  Very few applications use the MS
Filter interface for encoding video, and we cannot commit to another codec
type at this time.

>
> Thanks in advance - I really hope that the VP3 codec is meeting the
> demands of our application and will try inserting it today or tomorrow
> :-)

Best of luck -- dbm

 ___  Dan Miller
(++,) CTO and founder, On2 Technologies

>
> Thomas Tomiczek
> THONA Consulting Ltd.
> (Microsoft MVP C#/.NET)
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Daniel B. Miller [mailto:dan at on2.com]
> Sent: Mittwoch, 21. August 2002 20:36
> To: theora-dev at xiph.org
> Cc: owner-theora-dev at xiph.org
> Subject: Re: [theora-dev] Using the VP3 ENCODER in a DIRECTSHOW GRAPH
> wit defined quality and BANDWIDTH - HOW?
>
>
> so you are using the VFW codec, right?
>
> The codec presently looks in the registry to get the bandwidth
> parameters.
>
> I would suggest looking at this function (in vp31vfw.cpp):
>
> void registry2settings(COMP_CONFIG &CompConfig)
> {
> 	char vp3settings[120];
> 	unsigned long size;
>
>
> Registry_GetEntry(&vp3settings,REG_CSTRING,&size,"strSettings",REGACCESS
> );
>
>     sscanf( vp3settings,
> 		"%ld %ld %ld %ld %ld %ld %ld %ld %ld %ld ",
> 		&CompConfig.TargetBitRate,
> 		&CompConfig.Quality,
> 		&CompConfig.KeyFrameDataTarget,
> 		&CompConfig.AllowDF,
> 		&CompConfig.QuickCompress,
> 		&CompConfig.AutoKeyFrameEnabled,
> 		&CompConfig.AutoKeyFrameThreshold,
> 		&CompConfig.MinimumDistanceToKeyFrame,
> 		&CompConfig.ForceKeyFrameEvery,
> 		&CompConfig.NoiseSensitivity);
> }
>
>  ___  Dan Miller
> (++,) CTO and founder, On2 Technologies
>
> On Wed, 21 Aug 2002, Thomas Tomiczek wrote:
>
> > Hello,
> >
> > Due to some licensing changes (and because I actually want to promote
> > this, too) I want to replace our usage of Intel Indeo 5 with VP3 in a
> > video conferencing pplication we are just developing (check:
> > http://www.stnadby24.no/ for infos (english language) on the
> > application).
> >
> > My problem is this: I need to define at least the bandwidth. I am
> > feeding full frames from the camera with a given maximum framerate
> > (10), and have a bandwidth of around 90kbit for the video stream.
> >
> > How? The codec seems to ignore any output side bandwidth setting I
> > have entered.
> >
> > Can anyone recommend, please?
> >
> > Regards
> >
> > Thomas Tomiczek
> > THONA Consulting Ltd.
> > (Microsoft MVP C#/.NET)
> >
>
> --- >8 ----
> List archives:  http://www.xiph.org/archives/
> Ogg project homepage: http://www.xiph.org/ogg/
> To unsubscribe from this list, send a message to
> 'theora-dev-request at xiph.org' containing only the word 'unsubscribe' in
> the body.  No subject is needed. Unsubscribe messages sent to the list
> will be ignored/filtered.
> --- >8 ----
> List archives:  http://www.xiph.org/archives/
> Ogg project homepage: http://www.xiph.org/ogg/
> To unsubscribe from this list, send a message to 'theora-dev-request at xiph.org'
> containing only the word 'unsubscribe' in the body.  No subject is needed.
> Unsubscribe messages sent to the list will be ignored/filtered.
>

--- >8 ----
List archives:  http://www.xiph.org/archives/
Ogg project homepage: http://www.xiph.org/ogg/
To unsubscribe from this list, send a message to 'theora-dev-request at xiph.org'
containing only the word 'unsubscribe' in the body.  No subject is needed.
Unsubscribe messages sent to the list will be ignored/filtered.